Calling Who?!?

Message Title: Calling Who?!?
Theme: Made to Be
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Genesis 12:1-9
Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
RCL Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:1-12; Hosea 5:15-6:6; Psalm 50:7-15; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Focus: God calls Abram’s family to join God in ministry. 
Function: To reflect on the familiar beliefs we hold and how God’s ministry may ask us to step into the uncomfortable & unfamiliar. 
Other Notes: source: https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8176/showrashi/true/jewish/Chapter-12.htm#lt=primary

Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 calling the unwanted– 9 As Jesus continued on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. He said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. 10 As Jesus sat down to eat in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners joined Jesus and his disciples at the table. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard it, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. 13 Go and learn what this means: I want mercy and not sacrifice.[b] I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.” … 18 While Jesus was speaking to them, a ruler came and knelt in front of him, saying, “My daughter has just died. But come and place your hand on her, and she’ll live.” 19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. 20 Then a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the hem of his clothes. 21 She thought, If I only touch his robe I’ll be healed. 22 When Jesus turned and saw her, he said, “Be encouraged, daughter. Your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that time on. 23 When Jesus went into the ruler’s house, he saw the flute players and the distressed crowd. 24 He said, “Go away, because the little girl isn’t dead but is asleep”; but they laughed at him. 25 After he had sent the crowd away, Jesus went in and touched her hand, and the little girl rose up. 26 News about this spread throughout that whole region.”

INTRO: 

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What is the “right” way to eat a KitKat?
   1. First Random Fact: Did you know that KitKat are regionally owned? Hersey’s owns the US ones, Nestle owns international KitKat… and they have a bunch of WEIRD flavors – like a melon one.
      1. The Hungry Asian market in Kokomo frequently gets the fun flavors (usually one at a time) if you ever get curious.
   1. Here’s my embarrassing pastor fail: When I was a youth pastor, I watched one of my students take a bite of their KitKat without breaking the pieces apart. I’d never seen that done before and jokingly yelled: “you monster!” however, that kid was so embarrassed he never came back to youth group. Little did I know he was dealing with a lot of anxiety and I had boiled it over the top. It’s something I think about even 10+ years later.
   1. “Give me a break, break me off a piece of that kitkat bar.”

TRANSITION: Eating treats can be one of those silly hills to die on, like the favorite burner on a stove or big spoons vs little spoons for eating. What would you do if God told you that you needed to learn to eat KitKats a different way?  In our text today, God tells someone to completely step out of their routine and comfort zone.

Main Text: Genesis 12:1-9 Call of Abram– The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, those who curse you I will curse; all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.”[a 4 Abram left just as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him. Now Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all of their possessions, and those who became members of their household in Haran; and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the sacred place at Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. The Canaanites lived in the land at that time. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I give this land to your descendants,” so Abram built an altar there to the Lord who appeared to him. 8 From there he traveled toward the mountains east of Bethel, and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshipped in the Lord’s name. 9 Then Abram set out toward the arid southern plain, making and breaking camp as he went.

EXPLANATION:

1. this is our introduction to Abram, who would become Abraham. the very beginning of his story is God calling him to move away from everything he knows and trust God to provide. oh and the rest of his household and his nephew. 
2. “Leave everything you’re familiar with and I will provide for you” (God paraphrased)
3. “you’re blessed to be a blessing: every family should be blessed because of you”
4. “The blessings are entrusted into your hand. Until now, they were in My hand; I blessed Adam and Noah. From now on, you may bless whomever you wish.”

 INTERPRETATION: 

1. When we picture Abram being blessed to be a blessing, who do you envision him blessing?
2. friendly neighbors; like-minded folks
3. especially because the text says curse those who curse you
4. Who is he cursing? – clearly enemies and opponents… right?
   1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: What was our commission as humans? to foster the flourishing of creation: multiply, subdue, have dominion 

1. how does cursing your opponent’s fit that commission? 
2. how does Jesus’ behavior push us to see this commission differently?
3. How could our commission change the way we see the month of June – Pride & Juneteenth?
4. CONNECT TO SCRIPTURE READING:
   1. Jesus’ ministry is to the outcast

1. calling of Matthew, the tax collector
2. dining with sinners 
3. reviving daughter of royal official (not Jewish)
4. healing bleeding woman (would be ostracized by Jewish law for her condition as “unclean”)
5. Why would God, after making a beautiful creation, invite us to curse people? How do we filter this instruction through the creation commission?
   1. Are we using this verse as a license to condemn anyone who eats their KitKat differently?

APPLICATION: To reflect on the familiar beliefs we hold and how God’s ministry may ask us to step into the uncomfortable & unfamiliar. 

1. God is calling us to leave our tribe for his. leave our tribes based on:
   a. political affiliation & nationality
   b. religion & denomination
   c. who you love
   d. examples in scripture:
   i. “not what I want but what you want God.”- we echo Jesus’ words in the garden of Gethsemane
   ii. “not my plans but your plans.” – man plans God directs the steps
   iii. “not my people but your people”- we mimic Ruth’s commitment to Naomi
2. open chat ai:
   a. Stepping out in faith often requires leaving behind the familiar and comfortable aspects of our lives. It can involve leaving behind old habits, routines, or even relationships that no longer serve our growth or align with our true calling. By shedding the attachments that hold us back, we create space for new possibilities and opportunities to unfold.
3. Connection to last week:
   a. Rule of Life – as you reflect over your rule of life and continue to pray for God to guide your life, take time to reflect on the calling God has placed on your heart.
   i. Who is God calling you to love?
   ii. How is God asking you to love?
   iii. What ways do you need to let go of your own plans in order to love like God?

CONCLUSION To reflect on the familiar beliefs we hold and how God’s ministry may ask us to step into the uncomfortable & unfamiliar. 

1. Embrace discomfort and the unfamiliar
2. Lean into loving the world God’s way